More valuable to the future of the franchise: henrique or larsson?

[lboogie42*]

Which youn player wil be more valuable to our franchise? Henrique or larsson? Opinions?

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[PensFan6687]

Boucher and Merrill. hehe

 

[Classic Devil]

Larsson, of course. He's still got franchise defenseman written all over him. Henrique is at best a good top line center.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

I dont see the next Lidström in Larsson. I hope I am wrong, but Henrique has shown to be the next Elias, to-be-underrated-clutch-forward. Larsson can still be a bust.

 

[Saugus]

Larsson. We are building the defence of the future around him. If all goes right, he will be the Devils' #1 for a decade. And the identity of the club has always been with the defence.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I know Lidstrom is an inviting comparison to make, but I see Larsson as more of a Toby Enstrom guy, or Joni Pitkanen on steroids. A solid, reliable #1 with excellent offensive upside. I'd love to see him be Lidstrom, though.

 

[Wingman77]

Considering we have several forwards starting to age that will be leaving the lineup within the next 5 years and that we do not have a great pool of forward prospects and then looking at our pool of D prospects that still have to prove themselves, but have good looking potential, Henrique is more valuable to this organization

This is not to say Larsson isn't valuable, he is a big part of the future of this franchise, but the future looks better with the D than it does the O as of now

 

[New Jersey Devils]

From a franchise that builds and prides itself on defense, I have to go with Larsson. Even though he's been a healthy scratch, he'll get his shot sooner than later.

 

[Unknown Caller]

I know Lidstrom is an inviting comparison to make, but I see Larsson as more of a Toby Enstrom guy, or Joni Pitkanen on steroids. A solid, reliable #1 with excellent offensive upside. I'd love to see him be Lidstrom, though.

I don't really see the Enstrom comparison. Enstrom reminds me more of Rafalski than Larsson. Enstrom/Rafalski are smaller defenseman who can move the puck, quaterback a powerplay, and rely on the offensive side of their game. Larsson is a bigger defenseman who plays a great positional game with a calm demeanor. (Which is where the Lidstrom comparisons come from).

 

[Mgd31]

Don't see Larsson as dynamic as Enstrom per say.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Defensemen don't grow on trees, but I'm pretty sure there are forward trees.

 

[sbresistor]

I vote henrique. I don't know, something about 2 series clinching overtime goals as a rookie is not an accident

 

[Saugus]

Don't see Larsson as dynamic as Enstrom per say.

No, but I expect Larsson to be the better two-way defenceman over his career. We don't need him to be an offensive powerhouse, we need him to be an all-round #1. He is well on his way to that.

 

[apice3*]

There are plenty of #1 centers in the league. In the Atlantic division, you can name 6. One for each team, plus two in Pitt.

There are not a lot of true #1 D-men in the league. In the Atlantic division, the top 3 are probably Letang, McDonagh, and Staal, and even those 3 aren't great in all situations.

 

[tycobb]

There are plenty of #1 centers in the league. In the Atlantic division, you can name 6. One for each team, plus two in Pitt.

There are not a lot of true #1 D-men in the league. In the Atlantic division, the top 3 are probably Letang, McDonagh, and Staal, and even those 3 aren't great in all situations.

I would love Larsson to become as gifted with the puck as Letang. I am thinking Larsson is going to be steady offensively 40+ pts, but even better defensively.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Has to be Larsson. Henrique could (probably won't) top out as a 70 point 2-way forward and still be less valuable than a true #1 defenseman.

 

[Getzo5]

No, but I expect Larsson to be the better two-way defenceman over his career. We don't need him to be an offensive powerhouse, we need him to be an all-round #1. He is well on his way to that.

Less productive/physical Weber.

 

[StvBroDan]

Both

 

[Oroku Saki*]

Larsson quite easily. We have Zajac locked up and Josefson looking like a future number 2.

 

[Saugus]

Less productive/physical Weber.

He doesn't have Weber's shot either.

 

[Oroku Saki*]

I think Suter is a better comparison. Good at everything.

 

[Just Win]

There is only one possible answer.

Adam.

 

[The Wumpus]

The Larsson/Lidstrom comparison is like nails on a chalkboard to me. It's just fundamentally wrong.

I see a lot of Wade Redden in Larsson. Ottawa-era Redden, of course. I'm comparing playing style, not potential career arcs. Young 'uns who know him as a bad contract punchline might not remember that he was a very steady top-pairing D-man for the Senators. I'd be very pleased if he has a similar (but hopefully longer) peak.

 

[Rhodes 81]

Don't see Larsson as dynamic as Enstrom per say.

nope. enstrom is good offensively, excellent in transition, and a bit above average in his own zone. i think larsson will end up being excellent in his own zone, good transitionally, and a bit above average offensively. they'd make a fantastic pairing, actually.

larsson has all the tools to be a fantastic shutdown guy and minutes eater, but i don't see powerplay qb or 45 point d-man written all over him. i think those hopes are going to fall on merrill. he'll contribute offensively, but more in a 2nd pp unit and 20-30 points kind of way.

that said, i do think he's more valuable, to this franchise at least, than henrique.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I have not seen enough in Larsson yet to really feel we have a franchise type of player with him.

I wanted Hueberdeau to drop or for us to take Corey Murphy at the time. I hope Larsson proves me wrong.